Latest news with #PuebloChieftain
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pueblo's homeless can now be ticketed for public camping regardless of available shelter
A lack of available shelter no longer restricts police from enforcing Pueblo's ban on public camping. Pueblo City Council voted 5-2 on March 10 to approve an ordinance amending the 2024 city camping ban. A city background paper on the ordinance said the amendment was put forth "to conform with" the U.S. Supreme Court's City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson decision ruling that public camping restrictions are not "cruel and unusual punishment"— even if shelter beds are not available. Violators of Pueblo's ban face a fine of up to $1,000. The city's March 10 ordinance removed a portion of the 2024 camping ban that stated individuals cannot violate the ban if "there is no access to other shelter available." Councilor Regina Maestri, who introduced the initial camping ban, said it was introduced to keep the city's environment "safe and clean." She also said there is "nothing" in her or any other council member's "purview" to solve the issue of homelessness in Pueblo. "As Americans, they have the right to just say, 'No, I don't want to get better. I just want to continue to stay here. You can't make me take my medication. You can't make me go to the state hospital. You can't make me do anything,' ... The taxpayers have spent tens of thousands of dollars cleaning up these camps," she said. Maestri voted in favor of the March 10 ordinance along with Council President Mark Aliff and Councilors Brett Boston, Roger Gomez and Joe Latino. Councilors Dennis Flores and Sarah Martinez voted against it. Flores and Martinez were also the only council members to vote against the initial camping ban in 2024. "This is one example of cruelty to people that are being blamed for every crime that is occurring, I guess, in Pueblo," Flores said of the new ordinance. "In our society and our legal system, you have to prove that somebody does something before you can cite them. There has to be evidence and we are blaming them for every window that's broken on Union (Avenue)." The ordinance also faced opposition from five members of the public who — like Flores and Martinez — said the ordinance unfairly targets Pueblo's unhoused community and is an ultimately ineffective way to address homelessness. "Pueblo needs care," community member Chela Lujan said while speaking against the ordinance. "It needs nurturing. It needs affordable housing. It needs stable jobs. It needs good education. It needs food. It needs community support. Safe, healthy communities have more resources — not more punishments." Pueblo Director of Public Affairs Haley Sue Robinson told the Chieftain that as of March 11, there were nine beds available for men and six for women at the city's only full-time homeless shelter. The city's permanent shelter can serve up to 90 individuals, while its emergency shelter can accommodate up to 75. Efforts to recall Pueblo mayor: 'I wasn't surprised': Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham weighs in on recall effort Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo updates camping ban to remove shelter requirement
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pueblo's homeless can now be ticketed for public camping regardless of available shelter
A lack of available shelter no longer restricts police from enforcing Pueblo's ban on public camping. Pueblo City Council voted 5-2 on March 10 to approve an ordinance amending the 2024 city camping ban. A city background paper on the ordinance said the amendment was put forth "to conform with" the U.S. Supreme Court's City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson decision ruling that public camping restrictions are not "cruel and unusual punishment"— even if shelter beds are not available. Violators of Pueblo's ban face a fine of up to $1,000. The city's March 10 ordinance removed a portion of the 2024 camping ban that stated individuals cannot violate the ban if "there is no access to other shelter available." Councilor Regina Maestri, who introduced the initial camping ban, said it was introduced to keep the city's environment "safe and clean." She also said there is "nothing" in her or any other council member's "purview" to solve the issue of homelessness in Pueblo. "As Americans, they have the right to just say, 'No, I don't want to get better. I just want to continue to stay here. You can't make me take my medication. You can't make me go to the state hospital. You can't make me do anything,' ... The taxpayers have spent tens of thousands of dollars cleaning up these camps," she said. Maestri voted in favor of the March 10 ordinance along with Council President Mark Aliff and Councilors Brett Boston, Roger Gomez and Joe Latino. Councilors Dennis Flores and Sarah Martinez voted against it. Flores and Martinez were also the only council members to vote against the initial camping ban in 2024. "This is one example of cruelty to people that are being blamed for every crime that is occurring, I guess, in Pueblo," Flores said of the new ordinance. "In our society and our legal system, you have to prove that somebody does something before you can cite them. There has to be evidence and we are blaming them for every window that's broken on Union (Avenue)." The ordinance also faced opposition from five members of the public who — like Flores and Martinez — said the ordinance unfairly targets Pueblo's unhoused community and is an ultimately ineffective way to address homelessness. "Pueblo needs care," community member Chela Lujan said while speaking against the ordinance. "It needs nurturing. It needs affordable housing. It needs stable jobs. It needs good education. It needs food. It needs community support. Safe, healthy communities have more resources — not more punishments." Pueblo Director of Public Affairs Haley Sue Robinson told the Chieftain that as of March 11, there were nine beds available for men and six for women at the city's only full-time homeless shelter. The city's permanent shelter can serve up to 90 individuals, while its emergency shelter can accommodate up to 75. Efforts to recall Pueblo mayor: 'I wasn't surprised': Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham weighs in on recall effort Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo updates camping ban to remove shelter requirement
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
All aboard: County study outlines options, costs of bringing passenger rail back to Pueblo
A project years in the making, Pueblo County has reached a pivotal juncture in its work to bring passenger rail back to the Steel City. The county's Pueblo Rail Station Area Plan has been made available for review. Early in Pueblo's history, passenger rail served a vital role in growing Pueblo's population and heightening the demand for local steel production, but it's been over 50 years since passenger rail roared through Pueblo. "Planning to reinstate rail service to Pueblo has been under way for over a decade," according to the Pueblo Rail Station Area Plan. "To position the city of Pueblo as a key destination along future rail service corridors, Pueblo County began planning anew for a passenger rail station as part of an effort to reestablish intercity passenger rail services." Monies from a 1A ballot measure approved in 2016 funded design drafts for a train station. Studies in 2020 identified the Union Depot as a preferred station area due to its potential ability to service the Amtrak Southwest Chief Thru Car between Chicago and Los Angeles in addition to the Front Range Passenger Rail that could eventually run from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Considering community feedback, the 2025 Pueblo Rail Station Area Plan recommends the Baggage Depot northwest of the historic Union Depot as the preferred area to place a new train station. Renderings place the new station area between the historic deport and a proposed multi-use building. A proposed multi-modal bridge connects the station to the Arkansas River Levee. With Pueblo County staff's recommendation, the Baggage Depot pends adoption by Pueblo County commissioners as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for adaptive reuse, according to the study. "Coordination between all partners will be critical to the advancement of this plan," according to the study. "Once the LPA has been adopted, the proposed Pueblo Passenger Rail Station location should be added or amended in local plans, capital programs and operating budgets during future updates." In the 2025 study, Pueblo County staff outlines cost estimates in 2024 dollars for their proposed Pueblo Union Depot Station Plan, noting the estimates may be subject to change. The total project could cost anywhere between $31.3 million and $37.8 million, according to estimates. Platforms and track alignment are estimated account for $10 million to $15 million of the total cost, while the bridge construction could cost between $9.8 million and $10.7 million. Renovation of the Baggage Depot could cost approximately $3 million. Pueblo County's Pueblo Rail Station Area Plan can be viewed in its entirety on the county website. Special elections: Pueblo special election 2025: City ballot may include question about leaving Black Hills Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo County study outlines options for passenger rail station
